My current work in progress:

Two Reviews

The movie first. Friday night the KOARC and I watched the movie “In Bruges,” starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes. The main action takes place (not surprisingly) in Bruges, Belgium.

Hitmen Farrell and Gleeson are sent by boss Fiennes to the lovely medieval city of Bruges to cool their heels after a bungled hit. And of course, hijinks ensue.

This film features a lot of graphic violence but a lot of very dark comedy as well, and the story becomes more and more surreal as the plot unfolds. I’m not a fan of blood and gore films, but while this one was, as I said, pretty graphic, it was filmed (dare I say) tastefully, so that while you knew full well what was happening, and in most cases saw it, it was not a sickening gratuitous blood and gore-fest.

Did that make any sense?

If you are a fan of the slightly absurd, are not turned off by hitmen doing what they do best, and want to see Colin Farrell put in an incredible performance, check this one out. It’s available on DVD.

According to Wikipedia, Shibori is a Japanese term for several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, or compressing it. Some of these methods are known in the West as tie-dye. Western civilization does not have an exact word equivalent that encompasses all the techniques of shibori.

According to the description of the book on Amazon.com, Shibori Knits highlights the intersection between shibori and knitting, offering 20 patterns that utilize this transformative technique. Internationally acclaimed knitwear designer Gina Wilde guides knitters through three dynamic ways to add shibori to knitting. The first method uses physical resists (marbles or corks) that prevent specific areas of knitting from felting; where there are no resists, the garment does felt, creating unique fabric with bobbles and dimensionality. Another method uses nonfelting fibers as resists—for instance, a silk yarn knit with a wool yarn—to create windowpane effects or even mimic woven strips of fabric when felted. The third method creates ruffles and spirals when the fibers are worked in more than one direction; when felted, the work will shrink differently in the alternate directions. The textures created from each method offer a unique way to redefine felting and bring the beautiful and unexpected world of shibori to the knitter.

There are 20 projects in this book: hats, scarves, wraps, bags, a couple of baby things, sweaters, a belt and hand warmers. All the yarns used in this book are from Alchemy Yarns. When I figured out that the author is co-founder of Alchemy Yarns, that made sense. (See how quickly I grasp things like that?) There is, however, a guide to help you sub different yarns.

Here are a couple of my favorite projects. A hat:

And a wrap:

While it is a lovely book, it is not really my “thing.” So I’d rather someone else enjoyed it.

Would you like my review copy? Leave a comment to this blog entry (one comment per person, please) and I’ll randomly pick the recipient Wednesday (August 20) afternoon.

That is a beautiful book! I have been knitting since I was young but just recently “graduated” beyond dishcloths, scarves and hats 🙂 I would LOVE to see the wrap in person! I might have to step out of my comfort zone for that one!!

I would love to have the book. It looks like a lot of fun and right up my alley.

I hope your health improves. Isn’t it annoying ( not to mention somewhat painful) when the years of living start catching up with us and our bodies limit our ability to do what we love. Perhaps you at least have interesting memories. I, unfortunately, have nothing memorable to blame my arthritic spine on.

Good luck with everything you are going through. I’m quite impressed with your ability to hide it all from us. I hope you can get back to knitting soon or if not, at least find a satisfying replacement, though such a thing would be a great loss to the knitting community.

Interesting stuff, that shibori. It’s not something I’ve tried yet, because I was more familiar with it in the context of dyeing – I have a friend who uses shibori techniques along with beadwork to make the most AMAZING silk scarves. Although, I don’t suppose there’s any reason you couldn’t use those techniques to dye knitted garments… hmm… *gears turning*

I crochet felted cat beds…maybe I could teach myself to knit and felt more wonderful ‘stuff’. By the way, I adopted a Ragdoll that looks identical to yours…her name is dixie lee…she came from an abusive home, but is doing well with her new family. she is about 12 years old. I call her the ‘queen mother.’

I’m glad you have found time to do other things you may not have made time for had you been knitting. I know you probably don’t like the fact, but are making the best of the situation. Thanks for your reviews on the book & movie.

Oooooo…. fascinating! I’ve just started felting 3-d objects and it always fascinates me that the two sides of things don’t felt together too. 🙂 So I’m interested in the book.

My kitty Phoebe just had her one year anniversary with me. She’s snoring on the couch cushion behind me right now, with one hot little paw pad pressed up against my neck. When I move the slightest bit, she whimpers softly and curls her paw up on my neck. So of course, I’ve spent the last two hours on the couch with her! 🙂

Oh, Wendy. I would love that book. I’m all about the hats and the felting these days. Plus! I just sorted my bookshelves and donated a ton of unwanteds, so I have room for a new book! Here’s hoping my karma is good!

Now… my husband might kill me if I get another book. But, then again, he can’t really mind if I don’t pay for it right? : )
Looks like a lot of fun!
Lucy- I probably love bubble wrap almost as much as you do. 🙂

I am delurking because I covet that book!
I love that movie. In Bruges is the first full length movie written and directed by playwright Martin McDonagh. If you enjoyed the movie then you would probably enjoy his plays.
Two years ago I saw his play “The Lt. of Inishmore” on Broadway and enjoyed it. However, a lot of people left at intermission and never came back. The ushers told us that happened all the time because people could not take the gore. In Bruges is much less gory.

That looks like a great book. I read an interesting article about shibori a few years ago (maybe in Interweave knits?) and have always wanted to try it. Since I have to do my laundry in the laundromat, felting can be difficult, tedious and/or expensive. Someday, though…

By the way this is not a “you should do…” but when I had a bad back I purchased an electric spinning wheel and used a spindle while standing. In other words perhaps there is a way you can knit, standing or otherwise and not cause further damage to whatever.! Just a thought, it worked for me. Please ignore if it doesn’t work for you. I do enjoy your blog and read daily if I don’t comment much.

The only felting I’ve done so far was inadvertent. My wool sweater went to a new life as a teddy bear’s sweater:-( But I’ve recovered from that adolescent gaffe and would be very interested in learning about the intentional felting techniques in this book.

I am so glad you shared that book! I was intrigued by the texture of the fabric on the front, yet was wondering what was on the inside! Very cool!

Have you ever pondered what is up with cats and boxes? Ms. Two Fingers will work her way into any box/bag/bowl/basket/younameit with little regard to what’s in it (uh-huh, like some pre-drafted roving in a basket). There are days when I wonder what goes on in those pretty little heads 😉

As usual, Lucy looks beautiful! The movie sounds like something I would like. Hubby and I are huge fans of the Boondock Saints movie. Thanks for the tip – I think we are definitely going to have to see that. And that wrap in the book looks like something I need to knit for myself!

sounds like you had a good weekend! Why is itlucy likes boxes…my kitty is scared of wverything, but then she is an adopted stray who still ventures outside! The book looks reallygood from the pics you showed us! your a tease!! smile

Oh heck yes I would love a copy of this book…its all very interesting. Thanks for the offer…The movie I think I will pass on…while I would love to watch Collin Farrell blood guts and gore dont do it for me…although the hubby might like it…Cats and kids…go figure…

I’d love a copy of that book. Please add me to the list. I also like the idea of a book and movie review – more, please. The film sounded so good I tried to find it in the Australian online stores I use … no go, so will have to go to Amazon.
Best wishes,
Lynda

I must say that I expected something a lot funnier (and less grim) than what I got with In Bruges. I thought the dark comedy was really outweighed by the violence. I’m a big Ralph fan, though, so there was some redemption for me in that!

In my other life, I am an art quilter. I dye fabrics and have been studying the different techniques of shibori. I am lucky enough to have studio last Fall with Jan Meyers-Newberry one of the best shibori dyers in the world. I had not thought if it in terms of knitting. I would love to take the book back to show her during our class this Fall!
Susan

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